Only happens when I'm sitting in bed and using the MB. Doesn't do it if its on my desk
Exactly like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtVHPq-Muck
Exactly like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtVHPq-Muck
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WTF is wrong with my rMBP?
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OMG take it in immediately!
EDIT: My only hunch is something is not seated correctly and it gets jostled when you are in bed.
Haha. I'm not disrespecting anyone
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I don't. Just watching a movie or something.
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This is a good point. Might be a blanket. Still, none of my MBs have ever done this.
I got multiple videos of it happening, so I'll take it into the Apple Store tomorrow
RE: heat and/or static and/or loose connection...
Hi,
I would suspect one of two things might be happening. First off, I'd check the temperature of the GPU/CPU when you are experiencing this problem. Something like Temperature Monitor.app will allow you to view the various temperature sensors within the rMBP. The rMBP, as I'm sure you already know, has vents along the underside of both sides of the computer that serve as the air intake for the fans. The exhaust from those fans is from the hinge area. All other MBPs have both the intake and exhaust in the hinge area, so it is possible that your blanket covers the intake for the rMBP but not for your other MBs. While the CPUs should throttle their frequencies if they get too hot, and this is also true for the GPU, it may be that gettting close to the thermal limit for the GPU causes this problem.
Secondly, I'd look at a static electric discharge as another potential source for your problem. Is your rMBP plugged into the power brick when this happens?
And lastly, what happens if you move your rMBP around when it is on your desk? Do you experience the same trouble? There may be a problem with the connector between the motherboard and the rMBP's display that only manifests itself when the display is at a certain angle or the laptop is being "physically stressed" by torquing it through how it is held while on your bed versus how it is held while on your desk.
Good luck,
Switon
Hi,
I would suspect one of two things might be happening. First off, I'd check the temperature of the GPU/CPU when you are experiencing this problem. Something like Temperature Monitor.app will allow you to view the various temperature sensors within the rMBP. The rMBP, as I'm sure you already know, has vents along the underside of both sides of the computer that serve as the air intake for the fans. The exhaust from those fans is from the hinge area. All other MBPs have both the intake and exhaust in the hinge area, so it is possible that your blanket covers the intake for the rMBP but not for your other MBs. While the CPUs should throttle their frequencies if they get too hot, and this is also true for the GPU, it may be that gettting close to the thermal limit for the GPU causes this problem.
Secondly, I'd look at a static electric discharge as another potential source for your problem. Is your rMBP plugged into the power brick when this happens?
And lastly, what happens if you move your rMBP around when it is on your desk? Do you experience the same trouble? There may be a problem with the connector between the motherboard and the rMBP's display that only manifests itself when the display is at a certain angle or the laptop is being "physically stressed" by torquing it through how it is held while on your bed versus how it is held while on your desk.
Good luck,
Switon
I got the temperature widget. Will definitely try it out!
No static. I can reproduce it again and again when it's on battery power or not.
It definitely only happens when it is not on a flat surface, such as my lap, etc.
Thanks for the replies everyone!
I made an appt for the Apple store. Let's see what they say.
Hi,
When on AC power in your lap, is your powerbrick plugged into an AC outlet with a third prong (the ground prong)? I notice that my rMBP, even when the powerbrick is plugged into a grounded AC outlet, still gives me the slightest of shocks when I touch the aluminum case lightly with my finger.
What if you torque the case by putting a book under one corner of the rMBP while it is sitting on your desk?
What if you use a board (or a laptop stand such as the Rain Design one) while in bed? Does it still have this problem?
Regards,
Switon
You know the vents in the rMBP are now in the bottom as opposed to just the hinge on previous MBP's.
What I loved about Mac's was the intelligent design of the air intake vents. With PC laptops you have to be careful to place your PC Laptop in a flat surface as the vents are smack in the bottom.
With the new rMBP, its actually on the side and not in the bottom, but yet have to be careful not to block those.
Yes, third prong is being used.
It starts to flicker again
Doesn't do it nearly as much.
Thanks for all your help everyone!
RE: loose connection...
Hi,
Ahah! When you torque the laptop, even by simply resting it on a book under one corner, it begins to flicker. But when it is lying flat it does not flicker, correct? And resting it on a board when on your bed, it flickers much less. Then:
So it's most likely a loose connection somewhere in the motherboard->hinge->display, having eliminated the static discharge and blanket covering the intake air vent holes.
Good luck,
Switon
Hi,
Ahah! When you torque the laptop, even by simply resting it on a book under one corner, it begins to flicker. But when it is lying flat it does not flicker, correct? And resting it on a board when on your bed, it flickers much less. Then:
So it's most likely a loose connection somewhere in the motherboard->hinge->display, having eliminated the static discharge and blanket covering the intake air vent holes.
Good luck,
Switon
Hey,
I recognize the flickering and is caused by the cable goes from motherboard to your screen. I suggest you take it to apple store ASAP.
Cheers!
I recognize the flickering and is caused by the cable goes from motherboard to your screen. I suggest you take it to apple store ASAP.
Cheers!
The computer isn't a year old, it should all have been covered by warranty. Go back and ask for a refund of the repair price immediately.
Oops, I should have worded it differently. It was covered under the standard one year. The tech showed me the repair invoice and that was the price for everything
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Correct. At the Apple Store, they don't charge for diagnostics if it was under warranty. If it isn't though, they do. The repair order says the cost = $0.00 because of the warranty. If I wasn't under warranty, it would have been $310, JUST for diagnostics.